Ben Whittaker aims to open door on IBF world title with Birmingham victory

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, Ben Whittaker has 12 wins and one draw from his 13 professional fights and is the current WBC Silver light-heavyweight champion

By Dan Wheeler, BBC Sport, West Midlands and Daniel Pallett, BBC Midlands Today

• Published 3 minutes ago

World title contender Ben Whittaker says all he can do is “keep knocking on the door and hopefully it will open” in his bid to secure a shot at the IBF light-heavyweight crown.

The 29-year-old from Wolverhampton takes on Conor Wallace at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham on Saturday in a final eliminator for a potential fight with Russia’s three-belt champion Dmitry Bivol.

Undefeated Whittaker, who won a silver medal at the delayed Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2021, is ranked third by the IBF with his Australian opponent one place higher.

He comes into the contest fresh from successfully defending his WBC Silver light-heavyweight title against Richard Rivera inside two rounds on his debut in the United States in June.

Whittaker says the Wallace fight coming so soon after his last bout keeps him “on a roll” as he hopes to hand the Northern-Ireland born Queenslander a second professional defeat.

“Fights like this, at the top level, you all pretty much do the same thing. It’s just who brings the best game plan, who’s the better fighter, and I truly believe that’s me,” Whittaker told BBC Midlands Today.

“I’ve put all the work in, I’ve done everything I can, I’ve left no stone unturned, and it’s just down to me to perform on Saturday.”

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‘Amazing for the Midlands’

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Ben Whittaker is hoping a win on Saturday will lead to a shot at the IBF world title

Whittaker will be fighting in Birmingham for the fourth time and first since winning the WBC Silver strap in November last year.

And he says being back home will be special in several ways.

“It’s amazing to be from the Midlands. I’m [from] all over the place – born in West Brom, family’s from Wolverhampton, lived in Darlaston, but it’s just big for the Midlands,” he said.

“Up and down the card, we’ve got Midland fighters. It opens the door for them and gives them a platform. It shows that the other kids, like the grassroots level, we can do it from around here.

“And it’s good to hear some local ‘Yam Yam’ or Black Country accents in the crowd!”

A win for Whittaker would, in theory, put him in pole position to challenge WBA, IBF and WBO champion Bivol next.

But with Bivol obliged to face WBO mandatory challenger Callum Smith first – or vacate the belt – it is unclear exactly when, or whether, that might take place.

Whittaker says all he can do is win and hope his promoters can sort it out.

“You never want to look too far ahead,” he said.

“Of course you’ve got to get the job done in front of you, but win this and it’s just down to Eddie Hearn and Matt Froome to see what’s out there for me because it is a tough division.

“These guys have got their belts already. They’ve probably got other fights lined up, but for me it’s just win, then you’re knocking on the door and then hopefully that door will open.”

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